Multilevel supermarket layout

ABSTRACT

The display shelves of a supermarket are arranged in a continuously inclined vertical helix which results in the maximum utilization of the ground area, and a system of mechanically propelled carriages transport customers along the shelves. An accounting system also correlates the selection of goods from the shelves with each carriage carrying a customer.

May 6, 1975 United States Patent 11 1 Grange 4] MULTILEVEL SUPERMARKET LAYOUT 1,412,254 4/1922 186/1 1) Inventor: Jean-Marie Grange, 36 Les Haute de Marcouville, 95300 Pontoise, Primary p France Assistant ExaminerGeorge F. Abraham [22] Filed: Mar. 8, 1974 [57] ABSTRACT The display shelves of a supermarket are arran Appl. No: 449,359

ged in a continuously inclined vertical helix which results in the maximum utilization of the ground area, and a s tern of mechanically propelled carriages transport customers along the shelves. An accounting system also e shelves with 4 0 D W h mum sR I. w 8 4 1 .6 8 mm m a m & Cl C s 3 UhF HUM ow correlates the selection of goods from th [56] References Cited each carriage carrying a customer.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,377,969 5/1921 Muntean.................. [86/1 D 5 Claims 16 Drawing Figures TEWEEKAY 615E SHEET DHQF 12 FIG.6

Fi-IEI'HEEHM 6:975 3,881,574 sum near 12 PATENTEU HAY s 1975 .881.574 SHEET L8 1F 12 SHEET C9 12 Tam H Y B19175 1 EEl I ELHAY SIHTS SHEET FFENYELHAY 61'975 SHEET 120F12 MULTILEVEL SUPERMARKET LAYOUT The present invention relates to a means for arranging stores, more particularly supermarkets.

It has been ascertained that the development of the retail trade tended to concentrate the buyers interest on sales points of large dimensions, enabling the range of products generally consumed by a household to be assembled together in one place.

However, the development of supermarkets tends to be limited to an extent beyond which it does not appear possible to pass in view of its excessive dimensions.

One object of the invention is to construct a commercial installation of the supermarket type wherein the buyer is saved the physical fatigue caused by walking around the whole store, the installation thus being rendered more attractive for the customer.

Another object of the invention is to realise store equipment which enables movement of the customers to be accelerated and the yield per square yard of the store to be increased.

A further object of the invention is to construct a very large surface installation offering a considerably enlarged range of products, without disheartening the customer by the extent of the departments to be passed through.

Another object of the present invention is to construct a commercial installation of the supermarket type which avoids the long and tedious procedure encountered when paying for the products at the cash desks.

Another object of the invention is to construct a supermarket in which the rotation of the products and the management of the stocks is facilitated and rendered automatic.

Another object of the invention is to allow optimum use of the ground surface for the construction of urban supermarkets.

The invention will be more readily understood on reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I shows a general view of the circuit corresponding to the arrangement of the shelves along two helices, the view showing the line of the path of the guide means parallel to the disposition of the shelves.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view in horizontal section of the line of circulation in one of the helices.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a seat-carriage associated with a removable basket-carriage.

FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of the means locking the basket to the seat.

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of an example of assembly of the base of a carriage with its rolling means, whilst FIG. 6 is a view in transverse section of this same base.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a two-plane shelving with the seat -carriages and basket-carriages assembled together.

FIG. 8 shows a view in front elevation ofa two-plane shelving.

FIG. 9 shows a side elevation of a seat-carriage according to the invention, in accordance with the variant of FIGS. 7 and 8.

FIG. 10 shows a view in rear perspective of the basket carriage according to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9.

FIG. I] shows a schematic view of the system of signalisation and accounting of the purchases.

FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of a single-plane shelving provided with an accounting device according to the invention.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show two sections through shelving with detection device.

FIG. 15 shows a section through a shelf equiped with a device for signalisation by weight.

FIG. 16 shows a schematic view of a device for detection by weight.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show the store which is constituted byforming at least one continuous line of shelves which are disposed along two identical helices, viz. a first helix 1 and helix 2 symmetrical thereto (cf.FIG.1 the line of shelves has not been shown here; they follow the line of the guide means shown in FIG. 1 which are disposed parallel thereto, and are constituted of rail 7.

FIGS. 1 and 2 thus show that the parallel lines of the guide means and the shelves 5 and 6 disposed along a first rising helix 1 followed by a portion of straight line 4 arriving at the descending helical line 2.

Rails 7 having the general form of an upwardly open quadrangular channel are disposed in the floor.

This rail 7 thus offers lower and upper support faces 8 and 9 for the rollers 10 and 11 of the carriage 12; the rail 7 also presents side support faces 13 and 14 for the side rollers 15 and 16.

The line constituted by the rail 7 runs along the shelves parallel thereto; the shelves are shown at references 55, 56.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a first embodiment of the invention.

The seat-carriage is provided with two places; the seat 30, mounted on the central column 31, rests on a base provided with rollers which run along a rail 32. The successive seat-carriages are linked together by cables. The assembly of the successive seat-carriages forms a continuous chain and is associated with conventional mechanical means adapted to cause said chain to be moved along the line of shelves, the seatcarriages following the rail 7.

The seat 30 is mounted to pivot on the central col umn 31 and it may thus be displaced in the direction of arrow 33; this movement will in particular allow the customer to be at an angle of about 45 with respect to the shelf and easily to take the articles of his or her choice and to place them in the basket-carriage.

The basket-carriage 34 is of usual type. mounted on rollers and independent, capable of being manipulated by the transverse bar 35.

This basket-carriage is intended to receive the products which have been purchased; according to an important characteristic of the invention, it is thus independent and may be attached to a member provided to this end and mounted secure on the seat carriage 36.

To this end, and according to an embodiment of the invention, the seat-carriage 36 has a laterally projecting transverse bar 37 on which the basket carriage is connected by removable prehension or locking means.

According to one embodiment, these locking means are constituted by side hooks 38, 38' pivotally mounted on a shaft 39, 39' against the action of a spring and fixing the uprights 40, 40' corresponding to the front face of the basket-carriage.

The hooks 38, 38 may be returned into locking position shown in FIG. 9 by spring members and an unlocking device may optionally be provided, manoeuvred for example from a pedal or handle disposed on the platform 41 of the carriage 36', in this way, the user can easily manoeuvre the hooks 38, 38', by pressing on the pedal, to return them by pivoting in an unlocking position, this releasing the basket-carriage.

It is therefore possible, when the user has come to the end of the course, to unlock the basket 34 from the seat 36 and the buyer can then push the basket 34 in conventional manner.

FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 10 represent a variant embodiment both of the seat and of the basket-carriage.

The seat carriages, which are shown in detail in FIG. 9, are mounted on a base 50 provided with rollers l3, l4, l and 16; a central column 5] supports seat 52, said central column forming the chassis of the seat carriage.

In the present case, the seat has two places and, as has been indicated for the example of FIG. 4, it is mounted to pivot slightly, so as to enable the persons transported to turn to the shelves.

The seat-carriage 52 comprises at its base a platform 53 for resting the feet and for stepping onto when getting in and out of the seat carriage; with this seat carriage is associated the basket carriage 54 which is shown more clearly in detail in FIG. this basket carriage 54 may, as has been indicated for the Example of FIGS. 3 and 4, itself be mounted on rollers l8, l9 and it will then be removable. This enables the basket carriage 54 mounted on rollers to be detached to be pushed up to the customers car.

The shelves are constituted by two inclined planes 55 and 56 possibly surmonted by an awning 57 supporting the indicator panels 58.

According to an important development of the invention, the installation is equiped with a detection device enabling the purchases made by a customer moving on a determined carriage to be accounted; to this end, and according to one embodiment, the inclined plane constituting each shelf, for example shelf 55, is provided with guides or slideways 59, 60, 61 enabling ramps or inclined rows to be made in which are placed the products offered for sale; the tiers 62, 63, 64 are disposed perpendicularly with respect to the path of the carriage.

According to an example shown in particular in FIG. 12, translucent wall is positioned above the transverse tiers so as to allow access to the products of the row located in lower position and at the bottom of the tier; this wall, constituted for example ofa glass plate 65 opposes the prehension of the products 66, 66' behind the lowest product 67, 67' accessible to the buyer.

As may be seen in FIGS. 13 and 14, there is positioned at the bottom of each row a detection device constituted of two blades 68, 69 located under a covering 70 whose upper surface is slippery so as to permit the products to slide downwardly in the direction of arrow F. 1 onto the inclined plane constituted by the covering 70, up to the flange 70.

The upper blade 68 is held spaced apart by spring effect from the lower blade 69; the weight of the product at the bottom of the row, for example the packet 71 in FIG. 13, resting on the covering, brings about the contacting of the two blades 68 and 69 and the closure of the circuit 72.

The removal of the product, the packet 71, by the customer releases the effect of gravity on the covering 70 and separates the blade 68 from the lower blade 69 and the circuit 72 opens; as the removal of the product can be effected only in the direction shown by arrow F. 2, the prehension of a product will always automail cally cause the circuit 72 to open until the product 71 has slipped into the bottom of the row.

FlG. ll shows the general device of the detection and signalisation circuit.

At the entrance of each stand or department, there is a magnetic switch 73, 73'; this switch is actuated by a magnetic mass integral with the carriage and it is thus suitable for detecting the arrival of the carriage at the department in question; the signal corresponding to the closure of the circuit of the switches 73, 73' is received in the relay box 74, 74' and triggers a timing relay during which the detection circuits 75, 75', 76, 76'. are activated.

The intervention of this timing relay therefore makes it possible to limit the detection of the products re moved by the purchaser at a limited period of time corresponding to the displacement of the carriage opposite a specific department; the action of the contactors constituted by the blades 68, 69 is thus limited to the time taken for the seat-carriage and basket-carriage joined together.

The removal of a product during a period of time which would not correspond to the positioning of the carriage cannot be transmitted to the central computer 77 by the relay box 74, 74' if this removal takes place whilst a carriage is not positioned opposite the department; it may optionally be provided in this case that a special relay triggers a suitable signal alerting the staff on the removal of a product under abnormal conditions; any risk of fraud is therefore avoided.

The individual carriage 78, 78' (FIG. 11) is constituted as described hereinabove of a seat-carriage associated with a basket-carriage which therefore arrives in front of each stand and triggers by the magnetic switch 73, 73' the activation of the relay box 74; the removal of an object or product, under the conditions described previously, is detected by the contactors located at the bottom of each row 62, 63, 64, of each department; the signal corresponding to the opening of the circuit 75, 75, 76, 76 is detected by the relay device 74 and 74' which is thus suitable for detecting the removal of a product and the number of these removals; the corresponding information is transmitted from the relay device 74, 74' to a central computer through circuits 79, 79'.

The central computer receives its information and appropriates the data corresponding to the material removal or purchase of each consumer to an account corresponding to each carriage.

The central computer 77 is informed of the position of the carriage within the chain by the detection signals received and transmitted by the magnetic switches '73, 73.

The computer receiving a signal from a department, said signal corresponding to the passage of a carriage, followed by the removal of products, is thus informed of the indentification number of the carriage; the signals sent to the computer by the carriages passing in front of the magnetic switches make it possible constantly to mark the correct position of the chain of the carriages.

Under these conditions, the central computer may attribute to the account of each carriage the information that it constantly receives from the different departments.

The account of each carriage is thus added up as said carriage moves and as the purchaser removes objects from the shelves and the indications of quantities and prices necessary for invoicing are automatically carried on this account.

At the end of the circuit, the computer may thus establish, for each carriage leaving the chain, the adding up of the account of this carriage, thus giving the immediate invoicing corresponding to the different removals of products made during the path and of which it was immediately informed by the detection circuits 75, 76 relay boxes 74 and transmission circuits 79.

At the end of the course, the user thus has the possibility of immediately receiving the statement of his purchases constituting the invoice without having to pass to a cash-desk for the accounting of his purchases.

Thus the purchaser does not have to unpack the articles one by one; he may do this optionally if he wishes to check the invoice made up by the central computer.

The purchaser may therefore pay for his purchases immediately either in cash cheque or by using a credit card.

FIGS. and 16 show a variant embodiment in which the detection is effected by weighing.

To this end, the plate 80 receiving single articles of different size and weights 81, 81', 82, 82' is placed on an automatic weighing machine 83.

The weighing machine of known type mechanically actuates the indicator 84 (FIG. 16); this latter comprises at one end a magnetic mass 85 moving inside a ring 86 comprising magnetic switches 87, 87', 88, 88'.

The displacement of the magnetized mass 85 opposite the magnetic switches successively actuates these latter and closes one of the corresponding circuits 89, 90, 9], 92.

The removal of the single objects 81, 81' by the customer passing on the carriage 78 is thus detected by differential weighing; the lowering of the weight corresponding to the removal of the objects causes in fact the indicator 84 to rotate by the known mechanical means and the displacement of the indicator is detected by the magnetic switches opposite which it positions itself; the corresponding signals are received by the suitable relays contained in the box 74 and the signals corresponding to the weight removed may be addressed by the relay 74 to the central computer 77.

The advantages of the installation according to the invention which interest both the customer and the shop will finally be summarised.

For the customer, it will be noted that he is no longer obliged to walk around the store, which is tiring and tedious, and that not only he himself but also the merchandise which he has bought is transported. He no longer has to push his heavy basket, and the installation thus represents more comfort for the customer.

The installation also permits a considerable saving of time for the customer and he knows the time it takes to make the circuit of the store, which time may for example be displayed at the entrance thereof. In fact, he knows that the mechanised carriage will pass through the successive departments of the store in a determined amount of time and the customer therefore knows that there is no risk of his getting lost by wandering in the different departments. On the contrary, he will be certain to be present at the exit after a determined period of time.

The customer, grateful for the comfort offered, will find himself in a psychologically favourable climate and will proceed with his purchases accordingly, having a feeling of well-being in the store.

Another advantage for the consumer is the certainty that all the departments will be visited under the best conditions, without any being forgotten.

The goods will be better presented and more attractive for the customer whose attention will be drawn by the movement between the goods passing by and himself installed in his carriage.

These is no waiting at the cash-desks since the accounting has already been done by the computer.

The ground surface may be very small, the installation being built upwards, this being particularly advantageous in urban areas.

The installation is particularly flexible, the capacity of absorption of the store being adaptable and variable as a function of the number and flow of customers.

Risks of theft and fraud are eliminated.

The centralised installation, which is subjected to the programmation and mecanographical and accounting aid of a computer, is rendered entirely automatic both as far as the accounting of the individual purchases and as the administration of the stocks is concerned. In fact, the purchases corresponding to the removal from the shelves by the customers, are accounted to the buyer and deducted from the stock account simultaneously, this being a permanent automatic inventory.

What is claimed is:

1. A store arrangement particularly of a supermarket, comprising:

a plurality of seat-carriages, each one comprising a base provided with rolling means, a chassis resting on the base and a pivoting seat resting on said chassis, said seat-carriage being adapted to accommodate at least one customer sitting down;

a plurality of basket-carriages each one consisting of a basket provided with rolling means, locking means adapted to removably connect the basketcarriages to the seat-carriages;

guide means in the form of rails located inside the store, adapted to guide the path of the seatcarriages;

a plurality of links for connecting the seat-carriages together, in the form of a continuous chain;

mechanical means adapted to move regularly said chain along the guide means;

shelves for displaying the products offered for sale disposed along said guide means, said shelves being constituted of two superposed planes parallel to the guide means, the shelves being disposed in such a manner with respect to said guide means, that the seat-carriages circulating on said guide means are at a distance from the shelves enabling the products on the shelves to be taken by the customer on the seat-carriage;

detection means associated with each of said shelves sensitive to the removal of a product displayed on said shelf and suitable for emitting a corresponding signal;

at least one central comput for receiving and memorising the signals emitted by the dgtection means on each shelf;

at least one means for measuring and checking the displacement of the chain formed by the successive linked seat-carriages, for sending signals corresponding to the instantaneous positioning of the chain of the seat-carriages within the circuit formed by the guide means;

transmitting means for transmitting the signals emitted by the checking means of the chain of carriages and by the detection means on the shelves to said central computer.

2. A store arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein the dectection member is constituted by a contactor formed of a fixed contact and of a flexible blade maintained in contact with said fixed contact by the weight of the product disposed on the shelf above said contactor, the detection member comprising further:

a relay associated with each shelf and common to all the contactors of said shelf,

a plurality of circuits connecting each contactor to said relay,

a circuit connecting said relay to the central computer and sending to said computer signals corresponding to the removal of the products from said shelf.

3. A store arrangement as defined in claim 2, wherein each part of a shelf receiving a product displayed and disposed within reach of a customer on the carriage, comprises a contactor connected to the common relay of the shelf.

4. A store arrangement as defined in claim 2, wherein the shelves displaying the goods are formed of inclined planes having a bottom formed of a smooth, flexible covering enabling the products to slide downwards by gravity as products are removed from the lower row, the inclined plane comprising a flange forming stop for the displayed products, the inclined plane comprising slideways parallel to the slope of the inclined plane, causing the products to slide in tiers, the lower row of each tier disposed against the flange comprising for each location of product a contactor sensitive to the weight of the product and opening a circuit if a product is removed, the shelves being provided with isolating means opposing the removal of the products displayed at places not comprising detecting means and located upstream of the lower row.

5. A store arrangement as defined in claim I, wherein the basket-carriages are L shaped and may thus match the shape of the seat-carriage disposed in the angle of the L, the locking means may be actuated by the customer to enable the basket-carriage to be joined at will to the seat-carriage. 

1. A store arrangement particularly of a supermarket, comprising: a plurality of seat-carriages, each one comprising a base provided with rolling means, a chassis resting on the base and a pivoting seat resting on said chassis, said seat-carriage being adapted to accommodate at least one customer sitting down; a plurality of basket-carriages each one consisting of a basket provided with rolling means, locking means adapted to removably connect the basket-carriages to the seat-carriages; guide means in the form of rails located inside the store, adapted to guide the path of the seat-carriages; a plurality of links for connecting the seat-carriages together, in the form of a continuous chain; mechanical means adapted to move regularly said chain along the guide means; shelves for displaying the products offered for sale disposed along said guide means, said shelves being constituted of two superposed planes parallel to the guide means, the shelves being disposed in such a manner with respect to said guide means, that the seat-carriages circulating on said guide means are at a distance from the shelves enabling the products on the shelveS to be taken by the customer on the seat-carriage; detection means associated with each of said shelves sensitive to the removal of a product displayed on said shelf and suitable for emitting a corresponding signal; at least one central computer for receiving and memorising the signals emitted by the detection means on each shelf; at least one means for measuring and checking the displacement of the chain formed by the successive linked seat-carriages, for sending signals corresponding to the instantaneous positioning of the chain of the seat-carriages within the circuit formed by the guide means; transmitting means for transmitting the signals emitted by the checking means of the chain of carriages and by the detection means on the shelves to said central computer.
 2. A store arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein the dectection member is constituted by a contactor formed of a fixed contact and of a flexible blade maintained in contact with said fixed contact by the weight of the product disposed on the shelf above said contactor, the detection member comprising further: a relay associated with each shelf and common to all the contactors of said shelf, a plurality of circuits connecting each contactor to said relay, a circuit connecting said relay to the central computer and sending to said computer signals corresponding to the removal of the products from said shelf.
 3. A store arrangement as defined in claim 2, wherein each part of a shelf receiving a product displayed and disposed within reach of a customer on the carriage, comprises a contactor connected to the common relay of the shelf.
 4. A store arrangement as defined in claim 2, wherein the shelves displaying the goods are formed of inclined planes having a bottom formed of a smooth, flexible covering enabling the products to slide downwards by gravity as products are removed from the lower row, the inclined plane comprising a flange forming stop for the displayed products, the inclined plane comprising slideways parallel to the slope of the inclined plane, causing the products to slide in tiers, the lower row of each tier disposed against the flange comprising for each location of product a contactor sensitive to the weight of the product and opening a circuit if a product is removed, the shelves being provided with isolating means opposing the removal of the products displayed at places not comprising detecting means and located upstream of the lower row.
 5. A store arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein the basket-carriages are L shaped and may thus match the shape of the seat-carriage disposed in the angle of the L, the locking means may be actuated by the customer to enable the basket-carriage to be joined at will to the seat-carriage. 